Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1887-07-28
Mr.. AND MRS. sowsER.

Mr.. AND MRS. eoWsER.
a Somewhat Exaspsrating Expsriescs
with Three Gangs OF Fsintses.
Four weeks ago Mr.. Bowser began
to behave in a strange manner. mo
ticed him looking at the outside of the
house from the front and back. ac-
companied by strange men. and from
any open window heard them talking
about modern colors," meadow
green" and other mysterious things.
It was not until l found a board in the
back yard with half dozen colOrs of
fresh paint on it that suspected any
thing. Then asked Mr.. Bowser:
'.You can't be thinking of having
any painting done around here this
spring."
Il think the cornice ought to be
touched up little"
''But we had every thing painted q
year ago. and you said it would stand
for ten years"
III said so it will. but the style Of
color has changed this year. and 1
guess I'll have man for two or
three days"
'sAnd you'll have us all in muss
for the next month. Mr.. Bowser. can't
you let this house alone for day or
two?'
He gave me look of deepest re-
proach and turn away. l had begun
70 feel sorry for my expression when
wagon load of poles drove into the al
ley. 1t had not yet unloaded when an
another wagon loaded with paint-be-
daubed Ladders drove up. Then came
a dray on which there were kegs and
buckets and cans and brushes. and l
was compelled to realize that Mr.. Bow
ser was going to paint The cook had
Also seen the outfit, and she presently
came in to me and asked.
''Are you going to have the painters
around here?"
ayes. Hannah. Mr.. Bowser pro-
poses to touch up the cornice little"
"And he may touch up an intelli-
gence Office while he is about it, for l
won't stay! We've been papering.
cleaning. putting down carpets. sod
ding the back yard. oiling the wood
work and doing something or other for
the last six months. and I'm tired out.
It is now thirty-one seconds to five
O'Clock. At sharp five l leave the
house,
She was as good as her word, and
when told Mr.. BOwser of her going,
and related the cause, he Indignantly
replied:
SHOW I'll paint the barn and fence
to boot-see if I don't! I'll show that
girl that she can't run this family while
our name continues to be Bowser."
Next morning the painters went to
work. That is. they didn't exactly go
TO work. They came and sat around in
the barn and smoked, and some of EN-
fecbly stirred away at the paint-pots.
and some more of 'cm looked ut the
house and inquired of each other when
Mr.. Bowser got out of the lunatic asy-
lum. Next day the force of painters
was increased by three. and they got
two ladders up. pounded some putty
izto three or four nail holes and stirred
eP seven or eight colors of paint.
Alcag towards supper time one of the
crowd tOiied up one of the ladders in 4
weary. Respondent way. jabbed at one
-of the brackets with i brushful of paint.
and the others stood OF to examine the |
effect and give E,eir criticisms. II
seemed to be a very delicate operation.
Some of them kept walking backwards
no got 4 better squint until they walked
out of sight. and others had to sit down |
on tho grass and light their pipes and
rest their eyes by looking at the hired
girl next door.
On the third day Mr.. Bowser re-
maincd at home, and the men dug
hches all around the house to set their
poles. got up a scaffold to work on and
almost finished painting one bracket.
They might have wholly finished it if
they had agreed on colors. Some of
'em wanted the bracket of lilac
color. with the background dull
drab. and others stuck for something
more lively or more aesthetic. Mr..
Bowser said he would consult the old
nasters. and seven drops Of rain de-
scended from the heavens just in time
to let the men off at four o'clock.
When they had gone ! found seven
windows smcarcd with paint. u pane of
glass broken and the knobs of six
doors ''touched up" in the latest Paris
style.
The painters are with us yet. Not
chose painters. but some others. The
first gang lasted two days. Then Mr..
Bowser suddenly asked the msn who
seemed to be the fOreman--at least 10
aoafed away the most time-what they
we're doing to earn their money.
This isn't job to be rushed!'